Sharks that have overdosed on cocaine, caffeine and common painkillers have been found in the waters around the Bahamas. The discovery, made by Brazilian scientists, points to increasing levels of pharmaceutical and illegal drug pollution even in relatively remote marine ecosystems. The findings, published in the journal Environmental Pollution, are based on blood samples collected from 85 sharks near Eleuthera. Of these, 28 individuals from three species tested positive for various substances, the NY Post reported, citing the research. “Pharmaceuticals and illicit drugs are increasingly being recognized as pollutants of emerging concern (CEC) in the marine environment, particularly in areas undergoing rapid urbanization and tourism-driven development,” the researchers wrote. Caffeine was the most commonly found compound, followed by acetaminophen and diclofenac – key ingredients in widely used painkillers such as Tylenol and Voltaren. Two sharks also tested positive for cocaine, which researchers believe may have entered the water through discarded or lost drug packets. “They bite into things to investigate and eventually get exposed,” study author Natasha Vosnik of the Federal University of Paraná in Brazil told Science News. The study marks the first time cocaine has been found in sharks in the Bahamas, and the first time caffeine has been found in sharks anywhere in the world. The researchers noted that many of the sharks sampled were located near popular tourist and diving sites, indicating pollution from boats and wastewater associated with coastal development. The presence of these substances in such an area highlights the extent of human-induced pollution. While the behavioral effects on sharks are unclear, scientists observed changes in metabolic markers in contaminated individuals, indicating physiological stress. According to oceanographer Tracy Fanara, who was not involved in the study, this indicates that the animals may be using more energy to process these pollutants. “We’re talking about a very remote island in the Bahamas,” Wosnik said. Fanara said ultimately the drug’s impact serves as a “reminder” that coastal infrastructure, tourism and seafood webs are tightly interconnected.
